Abstract
Introduction: Telemedicine has been practised for many decades since initial documentation in 1940s when radiology images were sent between two townships in Pennsylvania via telephone lines. Bioinstrumentation and transmission of astronauts’ vital parameters to ground based flight surgeons came to forefront during NASA’s space programme in 1960s. During following decades, telemedicine was used in multiple medical specialties as a mode of patient assessment. Use of telemedicine in Rehabilitation Medicine is relatively recent. As multidisciplinary coordinated care led by rehabilitation physicians and allied clinicians is required, proformas are used in tele rehabilitation assessments. Proformas help to generate a clinical document with medical and allied health assessments in one clinical record. Currently, delivery of rehabilitation services is further empowered, enhanced and in evolution with the installation of dedicated software programmes for use by allied health clinicians. Most units operating tele medicine for rehabilitation medical services use trained proctor with the client/patient to enable more comprehensive examination to aid clinical decision when the physician is stationed in a distant site.
Highlights
Telemedicine has been practised for many decades since initial documentation in 1940s when radiology images were sent between two townships in Pennsylvania via telephone lines
Tele ward rounds and additional initial inpatient and outpatient assessments were conducted via a video link
A total of 236 Tele medicine assessments were completed for patients/ clients admitted for rehabilitation
Summary
Telemedicine has been practised for many decades since initial documentation in 1940s when radiology images were sent between two townships in Pennsylvania via telephone lines. Telemedicine was used in multiple medical specialties as a mode of patient assessment. As multidisciplinary coordinated care led by rehabilitation physicians and allied clinicians is required, proformas are used in tele rehabilitation assessments. Proformas help to generate a clinical document with medical and allied health assessments in one clinical record. Delivery of rehabilitation services is further empowered, enhanced and in evolution with the installation of dedicated software programmes for use by allied health clinicians. Most units operating tele medicine for rehabilitation medical services use trained proctor with the client/patient to enable more comprehensive examination to aid clinical decision when the physician is stationed in a distant site. Current evidence based on multi centre trials suggest that well conducted tele rehabilitation enable clinical outcomes similar to face to face rehabilitation. If patients are reviewed early, frequent and active communication is carried out during tele rehabilitation, patient centred goal setting can be improved [2]
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